Kylie Arellano’s mom speaks out on suspect in 500-day disappearance case
Stephanie Kaye, the mom of the Utah teenager held captive for more than 500 days, spoke out Saturday about perceived failures in the criminal justice system that may have contributed to her daughter’s abduction.
“This makes me soooo angry!! Why are they just letting these sickos continue to prey on our children,” Kaye wrote on Facebook Saturday in response to a report that the suspect in her daughter’s case had been previously accused of sexual assault of a 6-year-old neighbor. (Kaye also uses the name Stephanie Coleman.)
Adam Harmel, 39, from Huntington, Oregon, has been charged with allegedly transporting Kylie Arellano, now 17, across state lines for the purpose of exploiting her. Prosecutors say Harmel kept Arellano in his basement and repeatedly assaulted her, even forcing her to remove her braces with pliers so she would be less identifiable.
Read More on News
Newsweek reached out to Harmel’s listed public defender, Nicole Owens, for comment.
An FBI affidavit stated that Harmel kept a knife beneath his pillow and made the teenager sleep against the wall in his bed so she could not escape.
What We Know
Kaye’s post came in response to reports by KTVB7 alleging that Harmel previously faced accusations of assaulting a 6-year-old at his Oregon home in 2024, about a year before Arellano’s case.
The family told the TV station that they were granted a sexual abuse protective order that is in effect until 2037.
The Baker County District Attorney says Harmel’s case went before a grand jury, which declined to indict and recommended that the investigation continue. Baxter told the station that another search warrant has been obtained in that case.
In a statement to the TV station, Baker County District Attorney Greg Baxter said: “There is a case involving the sexual abuse of a child by Adam Harmel. At this time, I am not going to release any records from that case as the case is still open, and the investigation is ongoing.”
Kaye’s full statement said: “This makes me soooo angry!! Why are they just letting these sickos continue to prey on our children. Why is his wife still walking free with these allegations made against her as well. But I’m under scrutiny WTF is wrong with America.”
Newsweek reached out to the FBI and the Baker County DA for comment.
What Happened to Kylie Arellano?
Arellano was 15 when she disappeared from Garden City, Utah, on May 29, 2025.
Kaye suspected her daughter had been lured away by someone she had met online, although she had been unable to determine what happened.
The federal complaint says Harmel made contact with Arellano online in May 2025 and told her he had a disability affecting his hips. He allegedly offered her money to travel to Oregon.
Investigators say Harmel drove from Oregon to Perry, Utah, to pick her up on May 29. After she got into his vehicle, he allegedly threw her phone into a river in Logan Canyon before driving her to his home in Huntington.
Once there, Harmel told her she could not leave, according to the complaint. One of his housemates told investigators that he had introduced the teenager as his new girlfriend, although the witness reportedly did not see Arellano until about two months after she arrived.
She was allegedly kept in the basement, where Harmel also slept.
According to investigators, Harmel became increasingly violent toward Arellano, frequently hitting her and preventing her from leaving.
He eventually gave her a phone without cellular data, meaning she could only access the internet through Wi-Fi.
Arellano was able to tell a person she was chatting with on the video game Among Us last month that she was being held against her will at a man’s home in Oregon, according to federal court documents.
The other child’s mother contacted the FBI, leading to Arellano’s rescue on November 1, more than 17 months after she disappeared.
Days after, Kaye took to Facebook to post: “At this time we are working on making my babygirl comfortable, and showering her with love and support. I will NOT answer to news stations or reporters at this time. Kylie had been exposed long enough, PLEASE give her time to heal.”
